Joyce, my spouse was one of the earliest study subjects for VNS Therapy for Depression (December 13, 1999). I am her long time support person and health care advocate/activist of 5 decades. The intent of the blog is not to promote any therapy, product or treatment but to continue sharing our experiences and knowledge as it relates to VNS. I endorse patient education in collaboration with a caring, knowledgeable and licensed health care professional while also encouraging hope and persistence.

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Thursday, January 8, 2015

"...CMS and its contractors will allow coverage...for beneficiaries who began receiving VNS Therapy prior to May 4, 2007."

I would first like to wish you and yours and all those reading this message a very Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year and with that said it is back to business.

That is back to the business of VNS Therapy for Depression and what I consider the continuing ineptitude and oversight of our various government agencies as it relates to the study subjects and patients implanted with a beneficial medical device seeking care and replacement for those who were implanted prior to the National Coverage Determination (NCD) of May 4, 2007.

Don’t any of you folks really look into or think about the whole picture and the ramifications of your actions? The private health insurance carriers such as United Healthcare jumped on the bandwagon of denying coverage to patients implanted prior to May 4, 2007 while also calling the therapy “experimental”. The fact is for this unique population of patients wanting to continue their therapy it is no longer experimental but it is in fact a multi-year tried, true, beneficial and lifesaving therapy for some.

I do thank the Departmental Appeals Board for some judgmental common sense and logic in understanding there are study subjects and patients greatly benefiting from VNS Therapy for Depression as is my spouse Joyce and for finally acknowledging somewhere in writing (I have yet to read the official decision and document) that my spouse and others covered by Medicare/Medicaid could now be assured of their continued medical coverage for this therapy. But as I intimated previously, just what does it take to convince you folks to also care for those with private insurance? They too have been medically, immorally and irresponsibly left to their own means to find care through the negligence of your various agencies.

Why aren’t you doing the same to insure all the VNS Therapy for Depression patients implanted prior to May 4, 2007 are similarly covered for their care and replacement?

It would only take a moment of your time to insure all these study subjects and patients are rightly cared for. Can’t you finally right the wrong and injustice perpetrated against this group and set them all back on the track to wellness?

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About Me

I'm a very, very long-time support person and mental health advocate/activist for my spouse Joyce as well as to others. I'm also a retired business executive and former Board Member, President and facilitator of a local chapter of DBSA as well as a Florida State appointment as a Guardian Advocate. I do not endorse, promote or advertise for any therapy, product or company. I do share our personal experiences, my research and knowledge in the hope it might benefit someone or do I give advice as to what one should or shouldn't do. I extend my best wishes for wellness to one and all and all the good you’d wish for yourselves.